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| Travel in China > City Tour > Shanghai |
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Jade Buddha Temple The Four Deva Kings: On the two sides of the Deva Kings Hall are four devas who common people refer to as "the four maharajas" or "divine generals." According to the Buddhist sutra Collected Exposition to the Real Story, the four deva kings were born on the hill of the famous Mount Sumeru of ancient India, where there is a mountain called Gandhara. The mountain's four peaks are called the four precious peaks of Mount Sumeru. They are 1.68 million km high. "They are made of four treasures, gold in the east, silver in west, colored glaze in the south and agate in the north. And each deva lives on one peak." Since the four deva kings guard the Purva-videha, Apara-godaniya, Jambudvipa and Uttarakuru respectively, they are also called the four guardians of the world. They have 91 sons each, who assist them in guarding the 10 directions: east, west, south, north, southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, up and down. It is recorded that there are eight generals who assist the four deva kings in commanding minor deities of their mountains, rivers and forests. Their supreme commander is Weituo, who guards Buddhist disciples, so they pay special respect to him. The names of the four deva kings: - The Eastern Deva, Dhrtarastra, is dressed in white, with a pipa (a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard) in his hand. Dhrtarastra is the name in Sanskrit that means to "keep his kingdom," which suggests he is compassionate and protects all living creatures. It is also said that he can protect a country's land and its neighbors. Dhrtarastra is unique because he holds a pipa in his hand, which means that he wants to convert people to Buddhism with music. - The Southern Deva of growth and abundance, Virudhaka (to "increase" in Sanskrit), is dressed in blue, with a treasured sword in his hand. He lives on the hillside of the south of Mount Sumeru. It is said that Virudhaka mainly leads Kumbhandas and Pretas to guard the southern continent. He can order living creatures to augment their kindness and to guard the Buddhist dharma. - The Western Deva of broad eyes, Virupaksa ("broad eyes" in Sanskrit), is dressed in red, with a dragon coiling around his arm. He can observe the world with his "clean heavenly" eyes and protect people. Since Virupaksa is the guardian of the West, there is a dragon coiled around his arm (some says this is a red rope). Should Virupaksa come across anybody who does not believe in Buddhism, he will catch them with his red rope and force them to convert. - The Northern deva, Vaisravana (to "hear much" and to be "well versed" in Sanskrit), is dressed in green, with a precious umbrella in his right hand and a divine silver mouse in his left hand. When Vaisravana is near, happiness and virtue are known far and wide. He holds an umbrella in his right hand, which means that happiness and virtue can be used to conquer evil and guard the wealth of Purvavideha.
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